US Public Health Service thread??

[ilovelamp]

Anyone know or remember where the USPHS Corps thread was from a while ago? I can't remember who posted it. It might have been on that "other" site.

One :beer: if you can find it for me!!

[jrs7911]

I am a USPHS officer and would be happy to answer any questions (about PHS or anything).

[jrs7911]

I rink the thread you are referring to is titled jrs7911. Sorry I can't seem to link it from my phone.

[ilovelamp]

Awesome, you get a 6 pack! So I hope you won't mind all these questions. I still have a few years before I get my Bachelors in nursing but wanted to start looking at my options.

1. What are the benefits (in your opinion) of the Corps versus going military?
2. I read online that it's hard to deploy. How do deployments work? How often and long are they?
3. Do you live on base or near bases like military families do?
4. Do you get to pick your duty stations? How long are you at a duty station? Can you get stationed overseas?
5. Where around are you stationed right now?

Thanks for the help!

[jrs7911]

1. I am not sure. I only considered the military briefly after college and not around the time I joined the USPHS. I would hate to misrepresent the benefits or differences between the services as my oly experience with anything other than PHS is as a dependent (H is USAF and my dad was Navy).

2. You are on call every 5 months, for one month. For example, I am on call next month for the entire month of July. I have deployed twice in almost 7 years, and didn't leave the DC area for either one. However, I am not a clinician and have no real valuable skills that would help in a deployment as we typcially are there to augment the health system, provide care of victims/survivors/population for natural disasters and the like. I have friends who are nurses and they have been deployed more frequently (I am an engineer). Deployments are typically two weeks, they are rarely longer.

3. You have the option of living on base, though I do not. You can live near a base if that is convenient for you.

4. You actually pick all of your duty stations. You have to apply to PHS and a federal gov't (usually Health and Human Services) position at the same time. An officer can be called to active duty in PHS and not have a job until they have been selected for a gov't position. It's a little odd. Sometimes it is easier for PHS officers than it is for civil service people to get a position as PHS officer is just transferred and doesn't require as much paperwork. On the flip side, some offices do not like to pay for relocation.
You are at a duty station for as long as you want to be there. Currently there is no system to transfer people like there is in the other services. You have to find your own positions and apply for new ones. (I apologize, this is confusing to explain, so if you need more info, let me know) There are Health and Human Services positions overseas, but not many.

I almost forgot...we have some clinicians (I am lumping MDs, Nurses, DDS, and other medical professionals in with this term) who work with DOD, so that might be an option for going overseas.

5. I am at the Food and Drug Administration in Washington, DC and have been in various positions there my almost 7 years.

I have friends in other disciplines (Nurses, PAs, biologists, etc.) we might be able to give you better info. I have one friend who is prior USAF and one who is prior Navy who might be able to provide insight on your first question.

Ask any question you wish. I love being in the USPHS, so I am happy to share whatever I can.

[ilovelamp]

So if I joined, I imagine working at a hospital on base somewhere, and volunteering for humanitarian mission whenever possible to go help people less fortunate. Is this realistic or not at all what I would be doing?

[jrs7911]

It is possible. I think more nurses work for the Indian Health Services, CDC, Or National Institute of Health than DOD. Positions with DOD are not as easy to come by, but not out of the question. Most often deployments are in response to a hurricane, earthquake or some other disaster, natural or man made. When you say humanitarian mission, I think foreign. There have been few foreign missions, but our focus is most often for domestic crises. That being said, there is a call for volunteers every summer to go on the Comfort or Pelieu for humanitarian aid trips. Those are one month deployments and are volunteer only. Of course, your supervisor would have to sign off on this. Unfortunately, there are many supergiants who won't because their primary concern is your everyday job and they would be a man down for a month.

One huge difference between military and PHS: You have two chains of command, PHS and your position's COC which may only be comprised of civil servants who do not understand your responsibility as an officer. I have also heard of cases where they don't care and don't support your responsibilities as an officer. I haven't ever experienced this, but I have heard that these situations exist.

[jrs7911]

Sorry stupid auto correct changed supervisor to supergiants.

[ilovelamp]

Well that definitely clears things up a bit. This might be a stupid question but what kinds of things would a healthcare worker do at the CDC? And by humanitarian missions I did mean foreign, so that is good to know that it's usually only domestic. It sounds like a good job but might not be what I'm looking for if travel can be limited. Idk like I said I'm just browsing options. What is a normal day like for you doing your job?

Btw I'm chuckling at supergiants.

[ilovelamp]

Also, are the courtesies and customs the same as in the military? Like stuff regarding saluting, must wear cover when outside, standing in formation, etc.?

[jrs7911]

The courtesies are the same. It is an all officer corps, so it is a little easier in that regard.

A healthcare worker at CDC could have a research type position (labs, epidemiology) or it could be more of a desk job.
I review medical device applications, so I spend most of my day at my desk. The rest of the day is in meetings, info sessions, demos, etc. I participate in some PHS activities, but usually that is during any down time or during lunch. There are some nurses and doctors in PHS who do the same job, but it doesn't sound like you are looking for a desk job. I know if I were a clinician I would want something more "hands on."

[ilovelamp]

Thank you for all the great help, I appreciate it! If I think of anything else I will let you know.

[jamesonontherocks]

lamp, just a heads up - they are only hiring certain roles at certain times.

[ilovelamp]

Jun 25, 2012 20:03:37 GMT -5 jamesonontherocks said:

lamp, just a heads up - they are only hiring certain roles at certain times.

Thanks. I'm not sure if that was the type of work I was looking for. I think I want more hands on with patients. Did it go anywhere for you (I'm guessing not)?